SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT-Mandatory background checks for Little League volunteers who have repetitive access to children have been expanded beyond sex offender registries to criminal records.

Little League International announced the expansion for the 2017 season along with several other rule changes aimed at speeding the pace of the games and promoting sportsmanship.

"The highest priority of Little League Baseball and Softball continues to be the safety and healthy development of the millions of young boys and girls that take the field each and every day," said Stephen D. Keener, its president and CEO.

"While we have encouraged local leagues to complete national criminal background checks by providing 125 annual checks free of charge, this new mandate will help us ensure Little League programs are providing the best possible protection for all those involved in their communities."

Leagues that have utilized the First Advantage Screening Solutions program or a comparable provider that has access to sex offender registry and criminal records are in compliance with the new rule.

The First Advantage file contains 281 million records including criminal and National Sex Offender Registry records for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Little League International was the first youth sports organization to require some level of background checks, making them mandatory for some volunteers beginning in 2003.

Four years later it became mandatory for local leagues to conduct a nationwide search of government sex offender registry data. The new regulation expands the requirement to criminal records.

Little League prohibits participation by anyone who has a conviction, guilty plea, no contest plea or admission to any crime involving or against a minor or minors.

It requires local leagues to take into consideration criminal records when making the determination whether the individual is unfit to participate in any manner in the league.

Two rules aimed at increasing the pace of play will be mandatory next season in tournaments but optional with local leagues.

The one requiring one foot in the batter's box rule is similar to the Major League rule adopted in 2015 and tried during three games of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport in August.

The first violation would be a warning from the umpire with a strike called on subsequent ones.

A batter would be permitted to leave the box only after swing, slap or check swing, forced out by pitch or an attempted drag bunt

Other exemptions are if the catcher fails to catch the ball, a play has been attempted, time is called, a hitter with a three-ball count thinks the pitch was a strike and if the pitcher leaves the mound area.

Another change aimed at speeding up the game allows the defensive team to intentionally walk a batter by notifying the plate umpire instead of throwing four balls. However, four balls will be added to the pitch count.

This rule applies only to the 12 and under minor and major baseball divisions.

A new sportsmanship rule optional in local leagues but mandatory in tournament play makes it illegal to steal and relay signs to alert the batter of pitch selection or location.

Considered unsportsmanlike behavior, it will result in ejection of the manager and player.

Umpires have been given the ability to eject a manager, coach or player who leaves his position or bench during a fight or physical altercation.

It is not a violation if, in the umpire's view, the manager or coach is attempting to prevent a fight or restore order.